The J Word
- 05.09.2008 - 4:53 PMAndy McCarthy’s new book Willful Blindness and his latest essay “The Jihad in Plain Sight” are both must-reading for anyone who concerned that, even now, we have not come to terms with the need for war against Islamic terrorists. His essay makes the horrifying point that our State Department has seen fit to banish the word “jihad” from our official vocabulary.
So if you bemoan the Democratic near-nominee’s unwillingness to face up to harsh international realities and draw clear lines, you won’t be happy to hear that the problem is much more widespread. Yes, Rudy Giuliani mocked the Democrats for failing to use the words “Islamic terrorism” in their debates. But left to its own devices the State Department is going down the same road. (John McCain apparently has no similar issue with vocabulary.)
If you can’t recognize your enemies and define the nature of the threat, you’re not going to defeat them. You will instead spend time annoying the general population, giving them a sense that our efforts are foolhardy.
So if the Presidential candidates want to have a nice high-minded debate, they might start with a simple question: what do you call the enemy? That may tell us quite a bit about each candidate’s willingness and ability to grapple with unpleasant realities.
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May 10th, 2008 at 3:39 AM
“If you can’t recognize your enemies and define the nature of the threat, you’re not going to defeat them.”
Are you referring to the terrorists or the State Department? Unfortunately, your statement applies to both.
May 10th, 2008 at 6:22 AM
Is this just PC or an attempt to address specific terror groups. Folks at the Army War College have pointed out that AQ is a relatively small organization. They benefit from being grouped in with other groups. Makes them seem bigger and more influential.
Steve
May 10th, 2008 at 10:24 PM
As usual, a sharp, pithy analysis, Jennifer. What is still baffling is why George Bush, despite his generally clear understanding of who our enemy, has failed to clean out the State Dept.
And can you imagine how much better things would have been if he had, on the heels of his reelection, pushed for John Bolton as Secretary of State.
May 11th, 2008 at 1:45 AM
The Obama camp thinks “Jew” is the J word. I’m sure they’re hard at work on that problem right now.